Chapter 43: Drink Up This Bowl of Chicken Soup!

During training, Qiao Zhe shut off both the heightened perception of the Adapted and the detection abilities of Sky Light, avoiding any interference. Of course, this was because of Asuka. Recently, the frequency of invasions seemed excessive. Was it possible that the doomsday harbinger, noticing another Ultraman on Earth, had decided to accelerate its attacks? Hopefully, it wouldn't turn into a hellish forty-eight hours...

Lost in these musings, Qiao Zhe closed the XIG communicator. He had already learned Asuka’s current condition through Commander Ishimuro and understood what was happening.

Asuka had encountered the shadow of his life: the grotesque, wide-eyed monster Gain Q. This creature was even one of the components used to synthesize the Five Emperors King.

Closing his eyes, Qiao Zhe used his perception to locate Asuka. Once he found him, the transformation device appeared on his wrist, and he immediately initiated teleportation. A curtain of silvery light enveloped him, and he vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, Fujimiya was on his way. Elsewhere, Asuka had returned to school and lay thinking on a stone bench beside the flowerbeds. The mental disturbance caused by Gain Q still lingered in his mind.

Lost in thought, Asuka unwittingly closed his eyes once more, drifting into a half-conscious sleep, his consciousness again pulled into the mental realm conjured by Gain Q.

The world around him was drenched in orange-red hues. Atsuko, Qiaoji, Kajio, and members of the Falcon Squad appeared intermittently in this space, all fixing their gaze on Asuka. Even in silence, he could feel the disappointment and blame in their eyes.

Finally, the figure of Fujimiya appeared, lips curled into a demonic grin, unleashing a mocking, infectious laugh.

“Hahaha, Asuka, you’ll always be number two! Hahaha, hahahaha—”

The taunting, grating laughter tortured Asuka's spirit. Feeling as if his head would split open, he clutched it in both hands. “Aagh!!”

At that moment, a golden ripple appeared in the space, rapidly expanding and dissolving Gain Q’s mental grip.

Asuka’s eyes snapped open, his mind clearer than ever.

“You’re awake?” Qiao Zhe withdrew his hand from Asuka’s forehead, teasing, “The operation was a success. You’re a girl now.”

Asuka blinked in confusion, sitting up to see Qiao Zhe. Only then did he realize what had just happened.

“It was you helping me just now, Qiao Zhe-san.” Free from Gain Q’s interference, Asuka felt his mind refreshingly lucid.

Qiao Zhe dropped the joking tone and plopped down beside him. “Yeah. Ishimuro said you weren’t doing well, so I came to check on you.”

“Commander…” The mention reminded Asuka of his own bad advice, and his mood sank. Captain Mitani’s crash and broken leg, which would keep him off his feet for a month, was due to his mistake. Even though no blame was cast, guilt gnawed at Asuka.

Seeing Asuka’s state, Qiao Zhe asked, “Will blaming yourself here help you defeat the monster?”

Asuka looked up at him.

Qiao Zhe didn’t resort to a typical Ultraman slap—he wasn’t Dan Moroboshi, after all. “What you need to do now is quickly figure out how to deal with the enemy!”

A strange sense of Showa-era resolve filled the air.

“But… but I…” Asuka wanted to argue, but could only clench his fists feebly. “I really don’t understand why that monster even exists. Its form is clear enough, but no scientific analysis works. I can’t do it. I can’t find a way!”

He buried his head in his hands, pulling at his hair.

Qiao Zhe saw through him at once. “You’re afraid.”

“I…” Asuka couldn’t refute it.

“Do you know what an Ultraman is?” Qiao Zhe asked.

Asuka looked bewildered. “Aren’t I one?”

“No. Not yet.” Meeting Asuka’s confused gaze, Qiao Zhe smiled faintly. “Neither am I.”

Asuka was lost, unable to help asking, “Then what is an Ultraman?”

Qiao Zhe’s face turned solemn. “It’s someone who, no matter the enemy or the predicament, never gives up until the very end!”

He pressed Asuka’s shoulder firmly, as if imparting the very spirit of Ultraman.

“Asuka, remember, no matter what the enemy is, you must have unwavering faith! The power of belief becomes courage! It turns the impossible into possible! That is what it means to be Ultraman!”

These words made Asuka’s eyes widen, his emotions beyond words.

So this—this is what Ultraman truly is.

“Courage…”

Murmuring the word, Asuka felt his fear and dread melt away, his face lighting up with resolve. He nodded vigorously. “I understand now!”

With his confidence restored, he was no longer afraid of the unknown monster.

“Good, that’s the spirit!” Qiao Zhe clapped him on the shoulder, reminding him, “Now, use your head. What is the enemy’s purpose?”

“Their purpose?” Asuka fell into thought, replaying earlier scenes in his mind.

At that moment, one of his close friends from school, Acheng, approached with a blueprint in hand. “Here you go—the design for the remote flight control system.”

He noticed Qiao Zhe sitting beside Asuka and asked, puzzled, “Asuka, who’s this?”

“Thanks.” Asuka accepted the blueprint absentmindedly. Now that he’d figured things out, he had no time to introduce Qiao Zhe.

He stood up at once. “Acheng, did you drive today?”

“Of course!” Acheng beamed, flashing his keys. “I’ve got a date in Yokohama later!”

He gestured across the way, where a girl was waiting. Asuka didn’t even glance over. He snatched the keys. “Let me borrow these!”

With that, he dashed off.

“???” Acheng’s grin vanished. He stared, then called after him, “Hey, wait! I’ve got a date to get to!”

He made to chase after Asuka, but Qiao Zhe caught his arm. “Let it go. Asuka needs to deal with a monster right now.”

“A monster?” Acheng turned to Qiao Zhe.

Realizing he wouldn’t catch up to Asuka, Acheng gave up. Qiao Zhe let go of his arm and explained, “Gain Q. A monster that looks like a giant eyeball.”

“I see. Well, alright then.” Acheng had seen news coverage about the creature and grudgingly forgave Asuka’s abruptness.

Whether Asuka could defeat Gain Q was not Qiao Zhe’s concern. Without being integrated into the Five Emperors King, Gain Q was just an ordinary monster. What mattered was Asuka’s growth.

Qiao Zhe could have simply told Asuka Gain Q’s purpose from the start. But that was not what he wanted. Rather than giving him information, Qiao Zhe chose to pass on the spirit of Ultraman, letting Asuka learn how to overcome adversity on his own.

And the effect of this little pep talk was truly remarkable!